Table-leg fastening.



N0. 634,989. Patented Oct. I7, I899. W. H. MERBITT. TABLE LEG FASTENING. (Application filed Nov. 11, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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WILLIAM HAMILTON MERRIT", OF STRATHROY, CANADA.

TABLE-LEG FASTENING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 634,989, dated October 17, 1899.

Application filed. November 11, 1898. Serial No. 696,188. (No model.)

To a. whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HAMILTON MERRITT, of Strathroy, in the county of West Middlesex, in the Province of Ontario, in the Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Table-Leg Fastenings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

This invention relates to means for securing legs to tables and like articles of furniture, and has for its object to reinforce the comparatively thin table-top and to detachably connect the leg to such reinforcement, so as to provide a strong and durable fastening therefor. It is also designed to provide improved means for fastening the legs to the table-top at any preferred positions within the frame thereof,so as to relieve the latter of unnecessary strain and to locate the legs out of the way of persons sitting at the table.

To these ends the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details of construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure l is a bottom plan view of a table-top having the present reinforcement applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical central sectional view showing the present invention fastening a leg to a tabletop.

Corresponding parts in the figures of the drawings are designated by like characters of reference.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A designates an ordinary table-top having the usual frame A provided upon the under side thereof. These parts are of common or ordinary construction and of any preferred form and are shown to more fully illustrate the ap plication of the present invention.

In carrying out the invention there is provided a block of Wood B, which is designed to be secured to the under side of the table top. As shown in Fig.1 of the drawings, this reinforcing-block is circular in form to correspond to the upper end of the leg 0; but it will be understood that this form may be varied according to the shape of the leg. Provided centrally of the block and in the upper face thereof is a socket or recess 1., which extends a suitable distance into the block, and fitted in the bottom of this socket is a nut E, which is fixed in position by means of a plug 2, inserted through the upper open end of the socket after the nut has been placed in position. This nut fits snugly the interior walls of the socket, so as to be prevented from tnrning therein, and the plug prevents upward displacement of the nut.

To secure the block to the under side of the table-top, there are provided a plurality of sockets b which open out through the lower side of the block and extend a suitable distance therethrough. The purpose of these sockets is to receive suitable screw-fastenings Z), which are set into the under side of the table-top, so that their heads are inclosed Within the sockets, and thereby do not form projections upon the under side of the block. Furthermore, the block may also be glued to the table-top, as desired.

The leg Cmay be of any'preferred design and is provided with a metallic stem or pin D, projecting centrally from the top thereof. It is preferable to provide a pin or stem having oppositely-threaded portions, so that it may be conveniently fitted at one end to the leg and at the other end to the nut E. This pin or stem is normally carried by the leg and is adapted to be inserted upwardly through a central opening or perforation 3 formed in the under side of the block and com municating with the lower end of the socket 1 and engaged with the nut E. It will be understoodthat the upper end of the leg fits snugly against the lower face or end of the block, the latter being free of projections, as hereinbefore described, to provide for a snug and even engagement of these parts, and the under side of the plug 2 isprovided with a suitable recess a for the reception of the upper end of the threaded pin or stem D, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the block reinforces the compara that the reinforcing-block is secured in place in a convenient and substantial manner and is provided with means for connection with the leg, whereby the latter may be readily and conveniently secured or detached Without the employment of skilled workmen or speciallyprepared tools. Furthermore, the block being connected directly to the tabletop, and not to the frame thereof, relieves the latter of unnecessary strain, and the leg may be located at any point within the frame, so as to be out of the way of persons sitting at the table.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a table-top, and the frame thereof, of a reinforcing-block, having a central socket opening out through the upper side, and a central opening formed in the under side thereof, a nut fitted within said socket, other sockets opening out through the under side of the block, and fastenings received within the respective sockets, set into the under side of the table-top, and having their heads housed by the sockets, so as to render the under side of the block free of projections, and a leg, havinga central upwardlyprojecting threaded stein fitted through a central opening formed in the under side of the block, and engaging with the nut, substantially in the manner shown and described.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a tabletop, and the frame thereof, of a reinforcing-block fitted to the under side of the table-top, located Within the frame thereof, and having a central socket opening through the upper side of the block,

a nut fitted snugly in the bottom of the socket, a plug also fitted in the socket and resting upon the top of the nut, and provided Witha central socket in the under side thereof, a central opening formed through the under side of the block and communicating with the bottom of the central socket, other sockets opening out through the under side of the block and arranged about the central socket, fastenings received within the respective latter sockets, set into the table-top, and having their heads housed within the sockets, so as to render the under side of the block free from projections, and a leg, having a central upwardly-extending and threaded stem, the upper end of the leg fitting flush against the under side of the block, and the stem extending through the central openingin the block, and engaging With the nut, substantially in the manner shown and described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM HAMILTON MERRIT'I.

Witnesses:

R. M. 000K, DUNCAN 0. Ross. 

